Welcome to GMAT Club
ning2mba!
It depends... obviously there is HBS 2+2 program that admits people with just 2 years of work experience (which is counted at the time of matriculation, so you will have 3 technically). However, your application, your interview, stories and LOR's, and resume will be 2. That is on the younger side and AdCom will be looking at your maturity and your career trajectory. What have you accomplished with your resources? What did you do or did not do compared to other candidates? One big question on their minds will be - maturity.
I feel there is always a mix of young folks and older applicants (perhaps 10-20%) and then the majority are 5-6 years of WE. The part that will be your biggest weakness is not admission. You can get in with a strong GPA and GMAT scores and you could hopefully show trajectory and a path of growth and community service but the main reality check will be in recruiting. Companies coming on campus are looking for those 28-year olds to fill in the MBB spots, PM spots, and others. Having someone who is 35 does not fit their model. Having someone at 25 could fit the model... it is not that much difference but you will stand out and the big question is - can your work experience and your resume help you pull it off compared to your classmates? If all you have is a single stint with a modest promotion, it will be hard for you to compete with someone who has risen through the ranks of their 5 or 6 year work history and proven they can deliver results and fit into teams.
Another aspect will be the learning experience. Having only 3 years of work experience will make you one of the weaker contributors when it comes to case studies but you can compensate it with good presentation and speaking skills. You would have likely made fewer mistakes and failed less, and thus will take less out of your MBA experience. You also likely have less $$ saved (maybe not) so your purchasing power may be constrained but that depends on a few things - you may be rich or you may get a scholarship.
At the same time, you could be another Bill Gates who will drop out of HBS and start another Microsoft, so take it with a grain of salt, but I wanted to point out to you the challenges and headwinds you will face. Those will mostly be with your internship and job recruiting.
Again welcome and let me know if you have any follow up questions,
Thanks,
BB.